Parent Child Interactions – A Two way Street

Although the days you spend with little kids can seem long, never-ending, and extremely exhausting, time actually flies, and the years go by very quickly. Every day brings new growth, new milestones, and new wonders, but the challenges of juggling our adult lives often prevent us from fully appreciating the nuances of childhood. The parent child bond is unique and it must be enjoyed and nurtured.  Healthy parent child interactions can help to keep a family together and happy.

We have been told time and again that spending quality time with the child is important so most parents believe they need to take out an hour two and schedule time for their children. While it is good to make time for your children it’s important to remember that parent child interactions go beyond the scheduled two hours.  In fact quality interactions may happen when you are taking your child to school, or on the way to the dance class. Here are a few tips to help you in your interactions with your children

Start early

Parental bonding between mother and child begins in pregnancy. Research shows that for fathers who get involved with their children in the early days of life, tend to have stronger bonds later. Early interactions can be simple things like holding the baby, putting them to sleep or changing and feeding them. These interactions help parents get close to the child at an instinctual level.

Invest time and effort

Prioritize your relationship with your child. The first step to building a strong bond and interacting better is to be available all the time. Have meals together every day, and encourage everyone to talk about their day.  Be attentive and loving this will help you see things from their point of view. This is one of the biggest benefits you will have when you interact with our child. When it comes to time be mindful of the age your child is at. Younger children may seek out your attention more and have greater need of your time and self. While, a teenager may want privacy and more mature interactions. So you need to understand what your kids need and expect from you at different stages of development.

Build emotional connects

Emotion, in all its facets, plays an important role in charting the course of parent-child relationships. A child’s emotions will affect parental behaviors and parental emotions will have an impact on the child’s development and behaviors. The regulation of these emotion is critical if parents are to be role models. One of the best ways to build an emotional connections is to let your child express emotions. Be empathetic and allow them to vent their frustrations. Maintain eye contact when you are listening to them.  This will help them open up and share more with you. All of this may not be easy at first but with time and practice you will learn to see their perspective and be able to channel their behavior in a positive direction. An emotional bond will help parents tune in to the complex and dynamic nature of ‘feelings’ and create the foundation for strong mutual understanding.

In conclusion, parent child-interactions are a perfect two way street. They give parents a chance to explore the child’s personality, get a better understanding of who they are and how they can be molded Children on the other hand learn to develop strong attachments to family and establish well-adjusted relationships.  It is also an opportunity for children to know who you are and how you live your life. This knowledge will help them better respond to you and the life you want for them.